Sigue el blog por EMAIL. Seguir por EMAIL

jueves, 31 de diciembre de 2015

Populism used to be a marginal phenomenon in UE , but it is now going mainstream. Southern Europe’s high debts and unemployment made it ripe for fringe parties like Podemos, with moral, broadly anti-establishment agendas. Yet populists will gather steam in other European countries, feeding on growing anti-immigration and eurosceptic sentiment.

Spain’s Podemos and Greece’s Syriza made 2015 a year of surprises for traditional political groups. The Spanish upstart party rose because of its opposition to austerity and a corrupt elite. But relatively strong economic growth and the arrival of centrist party Ciudadanos has held the movement in check. Podemos-backed parties made something of a comeback in the Spanish elections on Dec. 20, but came in third behind the two main parties. Meanwhile, Athens was forced to back down from its anti-austerity election promises in order to secure bailout funds.

Radical politics isn’t dead in Europe’s periphery: Portugal’s new socialist coalition is sharply left. In Italy, populist parties on the right and left of the political spectrum command close to 50 percent of the support, according to Eurasia Group estimates.

But a different sort of populism is brewing in other parts of Europe, including France, Sweden, the Netherlands and Poland. Challengers are rising in popularity not because of austerity, but in response to immigration and terrorism and a perception that mainstream political elites are all the same. Weak growth and high unemployment don’t help, but economics is not the main cause for this second wave, and nor can it provide a solution.

The success of National Front leader Marine Le Pen in the first round of France’s regional elections is one example. Other eastern European leaders are embracing the far-right vision of Hungary’s Viktor Orban, as Cas Mudde of the University of Georgia points out. Populism hasn’t hit the big league in Germany or the UK, but if it spreads widely elsewhere, it could pose a threat to European integration.

Rising populist parties may not taste much power given the dearth of general elections in most European states in 2016. But as long as migrants and terrorism capture attention, extremism remains a risk, and moderates need to find a way to stay ahead of the debate.

lunes, 28 de diciembre de 2015

The International Syria
Support Group has provided a unique forum for important discussions among a
number of significant players, and there is genuine potential to turn the
existing political will to help forge peace into tangible action towards this
noble end.

Focus must turn to the
political process, and the imperative of a unified front against extremist
violence. Yet progress continues to be hindered by preconditions which have
prolonged the violence and bloodshed for four years. Indeed, what is most ironic
and distressing about these preconditions is that they do not represent the
wishes of the Syrian people; rather, they reflect the agendas of outside
actors, none of whom have the right to impose their will on an independent
nation.

The Syrian people do
not need guardians. The age of mandates and protectorates is long gone. It is
utterly absurd that those who have denied their own population the most
rudimentary tenets of democracy, such as a constitution and elections, are now
self-declared champions of democracy in Syria. Their democracy, however, is not
to give Syrians a voice, but instead to thwart the political process by
stonewalling a ceasefire, while pushing for self-proclaimed al-Qaida affiliates
to have a prominent place at the negotiating table.

Indeed, it is alarming
that some are oblivious to how bands of villains such as Isis or al-Qaida’s
multiple incarnations and reincarnations are a common threat to all of us,
including their patrons. It is delusional to believe that sponsoring these
terrorists, directly or through their newborn ideological siblings, can ever be
an asset or leverage to achieve even short-term political objectives. Yet those
who support militant extremism are not only continuing to do so, but they
sponsor terror with impunity. They even use their political patronages and web
of lobbyists to seek to legitimise such assistance, and its recipients, by
differentiating between “good terrorists” and “bad terrorists”.

Beyond slaughtering
countless innocents, the hooded villains have proven that while terrorism has
no religion, no nationality or ethnic background, it certainly has backers with
known addresses and horrific agendas. Ask Syrians. Or Iraqis, who during the
past 12 years have been the target of almost 2,000 suicide bombings. The
perpetrators of these atrocities, and those who created carnage in New York,
London, Madrid, Peshawar, Beirut, Tunis, Paris and San Bernardino all have one
common thread. They were all radicalised by demagogues preaching the same
petro-fuelled perversion of Islam.

What happened in New
York that fateful September morning 14 years ago, and the response, is directly
linked to the tragedies in Paris, Beirut and San Bernardino during the past few
weeks. Despite its immense cost of hundreds of thousands of lives and more than
$400tn, the so-called “war on terror” has failed to achieve its purported
objective. The perverted ideology behind groups such as al-Qaida not only
lives, but thrives. It has spawned ever more vile manifestations of raw hatred
and open thirst for blood. Hooded villains are now ravaging the cradle of
civilization.

Terrorists should never
have been allowed to set the agenda, or dictate the response. These villains
are the offspring of indiscriminate retribution, failure to unite in confronting
the roots of terrorism, and continued impunity extended to those so-called
allies who perceive extremism as an asset or leverage. We must all recognise
that security cannot be achieved at the expense of the insecurity of others.
Unless there is a serious change in the course of action, violent extremism
will haunt us all, including the hands that feed it.

Make no mistake: for
the past four years, Syria has been ground zero in nothing short of a paramount
fight for our future. I say “our” – repeating the theme of a recent message by
Ayatollah Khamenei, who called the menace of perverted extremism “our common
worry” – because the world’s fate is common. No one is immune from the
consequences of the outcome of the existential battle that we need to fight.

From the outset of the
Syrian crisis, Iran’s position has rested on three pillars: respect for the
wishes and free will of the Syrian nation to decide its own destiny and to
manage its own affairs; opposition to foreign interference geared to impose the
wishes of outside actors on an independent people; and rejection of terrorism
as a tool to achieve political objectives.

Based on these pillars,
Iran has always insisted that there is no military solution to the Syrian
crisis. Only ballots – not bullets – can ultimately usher in a new era in
Syria. To this end, Iran has consistently advocated an immediate ceasefire and
an end to the bloodshed; dialogue between the Syrian government and the
opposition groups who reject terrorism; a concerted and genuine international
effort to uproot extremist violence; and a global campaign to address the
humanitarian catastrophe now, and to rebuild Syria once the flames of war
subside.

The International Syria
Support Group should encourage, facilitate and enable Syrians to change the
course of their future, and by extension, change the course of our collective
future. To do so, all must join hands to put into effect an immediate end to
the bloodshed and vigorously focus on promoting an inclusive intra-Syrian
political process, bringing together all Syrians with a vested interest in a
brighter tomorrow. We must close ranks in the fight against extremist violence
and terror, while not allowing rage to come in the way of collective reflection
and wisdom for a rational and joint response.

Most importantly, we
must together work to confront the roots of extremist violence, including
double standards, marginalisation, repression, xenophobia and Islamophobia. If
not, our children, and their children, will be forced to. And at much greater
cost.

domingo, 27 de diciembre de 2015

Zinedine Zidane can be Real Madrid's answer to Pep Guardiola... but does Rafa Benitez exit pave the way for Gareth Bale to move to Manchester United?

Zinedine Zidane has replaced Rafael Benitez as Real Madrid manager

France legend could emulate success of Pep Guardiola at Barcelona

Cristiano Ronaldo and Sergio Ramos were not impressed Benitez

Manchester United target Gareth Bale's future will again be questioned

Zinedine Zidane has finally been given the top job - now it’s time to show he can have the same effect on Real Madrid that Pep Guardiola had on Barcelona.

When Barca gambled on the then 38-year-old back in 2008 it paid off with 14 trophies in four years. Zidane is 43-years-old and has started, much like Guardiola, as coach Real Madrid’s youth team. Now he has to make the same step up.

There are great expectations – there are also doubts. Guardiola won promotion from the third tier with the Barca B-team before taking the reigns of the first team. Zidane failed to guide Real Madrid Castilla to a similar promotion last season and has not been entirely convincing this campaign.

SHARE PICTURE

Copy link to paste in your message

+17

France legend Zinedine Zidane has been named as the new manager of Real Madrid

SHARE PICTURE

Copy link to paste in your message

+17

The former Real Madrid playmaker is unveiled at the bernabeu on Tuesday evening

Real Madrid were held to a 2-2 draw by Valencia at the weekend, leaving them four points off the pace

The World Cup winner has taken over after the sacking of unpopular Rafa Benitez at the Bernabeu

Real Madrid will be hoping that Zidane can follow the same course set by Pep Guardiola at Barcelona

Norweigan wonderkid Martin Odegaard has hardly blossomed in his care and there is no feeling around the former Ballon d’Or and World Cup winner that he has the same gift as Guardiola.

What the Frenchman undoubtedly does have is that star quality that will give him an unquestioned authority in the Real Madrid dressing room, at least from the start. And he will also enjoy the full backing of Real Madrid supporters – a stadium that has booed and whistled the name of Benitez every time it has been announced in recent weeks.

Zidane is loved unanimously by the supporters who will fill the club’s Valdebebas training ground on Tuesday to watch the players train in an open session. That volley in Glasgow in 2002 that gave Real a 2-1 win over Bayer Leverkusen for their ninth Champions League remains one of the greatest moments in the club's history.

Copy link to paste in your message

Like Guardiola, Zidane, pictured with son Enzo (centre), has earned his coaching experience in the youth set up

The 43-year-old is forever revered in Madrid after the wonder goal that clinched the 2002 Champion League

Guardiola went on to win 14 major trophies with Barcelona before moving on to Bayern Munich

ZIDANE PLAYING HONOURS

Juventus

Serie A: 1996–97, 1997–98

Italian Super Cup: 1997

UEFA Super Cup: 1996

Intercontinental Cup: 1996

Real Madrid

La Liga: 2002–03

Spanish Super Cu: 2001, 2003

UEFA Champions League: 2001–02

UEFA Super Cup: 2002

Intercontinental Cup: 2002

GUARDIOLA PLAYING HONOURS

Barcelona

La Liga: 1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1997–98, 1998–99

Copa del Rey: 1996–97, 1997–98

Spanish Super Cup: 1991, 1992, 1994, 1996

European Cup: 1991–92

UEFA Cup Winners' Cup: 1996–97

UEFA Super Cup: 1992, 1997

Argentine midfielder Santiago Solari was in the team that night and he will be alongside Zidane as his No 2 when he takes over for Sunday’s opening game against Deportivo.

He returned to the club in 2014 and – dodging a scandal over not having the correct coaching badges in his first season – he established himself without achieving the aim of getting the Castilla second string back into the Spanish second division.

Directors at Real Madrid are hoping that because the two jobs are so different in nature, his underwhelming performance as B-team boss will have little bearing on how well he does coaching the superstars.

Some of the first team players will be pleased at the change. There is a good relationship with Karim Benzema and Raphael Varane and his appointment may well grease the cogs of a Paul Pogba switch from Juventus in the summer. Sergio Ramos is another who will welcome the change having never accepted the appointment of Benitez.

Zidane's French connections will be welcomed by Karim Benzema... and potentially Paul Pogba (right)

Creative players including James Rodriguez never fully adapted to Benitez's playing style

BALE LAST SIX GAMES UNDER BENITEZ

November 29 vs Eibar (W) GOAL

December 5 vs Getafe (W) GOAL

December 13 vs Villarreal (L)

December 20 vs Ray Vallecano (W) 4 GOALS

December 30 vs Real Madrid (W)

January 3 vs Valencia (D) GOAL

6 GAMES: 7 GOALS

Cristiano Ronaldo was, much like Ramos, unhappy at the sacking of Carlo Ancelotti at the end of last season and will also welcome Zidane. James Rodriguez never took to Benitez’ style of man-management and attacking midfielder Isco has not played any part in the last two matches after breaching discipline by laughing on the bench after Madrid had conceded against Rayo Vallecano so those two will also be pleased at the change.

But not everyone will be happy. Gareth Bale was enjoying working under Benitez. The Welsman has been outstanding in his last three matches – no one has pulled out more stops to save the former Liverpool manager’s job.

Bale’s header at Mestalla on Sunday night gave 10-man Real Madrid the lead against Gary Neville’s Valencia and that should have meant the visitors took all three points. Real Madrid would have moved level with Barcelona in the league and it would have been very hard to sack Benitez. But Real Madrid conceded immediately and Benitez fate was all but sealed.

Gareth Bale has been in fine form under Benitez, but the Spaniard's exit could cast doubt over his future

The Welshman, pictured scoring his ninth goal of the season, has long been admired by Manchester United

What now remains to be seen is how Zidane uses Bale. The former Tottenham midfielder remains the man president Florentino Perez wants to build a new, post-Ronaldo Madrid around but Zidane may have other ideas and, at least at the start of his reign, he will have the authority to do as he pleases.

This is will be the third coach in Bale’s short Real Madrid career and if things do not go well Manchester United may well find that he becomes a far more gettable target this summer.

His future will, like Real Madrid’s prospects in La Liga and the Champions League, depend on how effectively Zidane can take the stardust he had as a player and spread it over the training ground, the tactics board and the technical area at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Copy link to paste in your message

Zidane watches down the touchline during a Real Madrid Castilla match in Segunda 2

SHARE PICTURE

Copy link to paste in your message

+17

Zidane, pictured with his family, is facing the prospect of being as effective a manager as he was a player